Birmingham police and fire investigators probe a north Birmingham apartment building fire at 1287 44th Street North where three people died early Friday, Oct. 29, 2010. (The Birmingham News/Carol Robinson)

A 12-year-old girl and her uncle, 34, were dead on the scene at 1297 44th Street North, Birmingham Police Capt. Henry Irby said. An adult woman was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced dead, Irby said.

The Birmingham Police Department's Crime Reduction Task Force, Birmingham police investigators and the U.S. Marshals are still on the scene investigating.

The fire was contained to one unit in the 12-unit building.

Jerrell Williams, 28, lived upstairs from the family and said he and his woke up just before 5 a.m. to the smell of smoke coming in through their opened windows. They looked out and saw the smoke coming from the apartment below, and Williams said he ran downstairs to try to wake the family.